Vidor, Texas (BP)—Dozens of Southern Baptist churches whose buildings were destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Ike in Texas will benefit from relief initiatives launched by both the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

The SBTC has created an “Adopt-A-Church” ministry to connect Ike-impacted congregations with other churches, associations or individuals who want to “adopt” a church and provide assistance.

The BGCT has launched its “Church2Church” initiative, designed to help with recovery and re-entry efforts for BGCT churches and members in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Twenty BGCT member churches had buildings totally destroyed by Hurricane Ike, and more than 100 church buildings in the hurricane impact areas were damaged to some degree. Eleven SBTC church buildings sustained major damage and are unable to hold services due to flooding or structural damage; 12 churches recorded “medium” or “minimal” damage and 33 suffered only “minor” damage.

Terry Wright, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vidor, Texas, an SBTC church, has taken on the role of coordinating the joint response to these devastated churches, many of which had no flood insurance and may never be able to open their doors again.

“We’re feeding information from damaged Baptist churches to both Texas conventions and to NAMB,” Wright noted. “We’re compiling a list of churches that have the greatest needs, because not all churches have the same level of need.”

Twelve Galveston Baptist Association churches suffered major damage. Two were totally destroyed and all that’s left of one is the slab. Wright said First Baptist Church of Galveston took on a lot of water and sewage. The church had some flood insurance but not enough, he said.

Wright said that in Golden Triangle Association—comprised of Jefferson, Orange and part of Chambers counties—18 churches have been identified as having total or substantial hurricane damage.

Four more church buildings were flooded and heavily damaged in Bridge City. Wright pointed out that First Baptist Church of Bridge City will not get an insurance settlement despite the fact the church’s property and parsonage were destroyed. The church’s pastor and staff also lost everything.

Liberty Baptist Church in Bridge City was destroyed by floodwaters, and its 62-year-old pastor lost all his belongings, Wright noted.

“Some churches can’t meet so there are no weekly offerings. There’s no money for payroll or to pay the mortgages they’re carrying,” Wright explained. “They are in dire straits.”

Six churches in Trinity River Baptist Association also recorded substantial damage to churches, parsonages or to members’ homes. Trinity Baptist Church in Port Arthur, a congregation in Southern Baptists of Southeast Texas Association, also reported significant wind damage.

In disaster relief activity related to Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, Southern Baptist Convention disaster relief feeding kitchens have prepared more than 4.8 million hot meals for hurricane victims and volunteers.

Three feeding units—staffed by volunteers from Maryland/Delaware, Michigan and SBTC—have been cooking 30,000 meals a day on Galveston Island. North Carolina feeding units have been operating in Baytown, and feeding continues in Orange. Volunteers from Ohio and Minnesota/Wisconsin arrived in Galveston last weekend to take over the feeding operation there.

Through last week, Southern Baptist disaster relief teams in Louisiana and Texas have chalked up 40,000 volunteer days; completed 3,800 mud-out, chainsaw, roofing and repair jobs; provided 41,000 showers and 13,000 laundry loads; and recorded some 19,000 ministry contacts, including 3,100 chaplaincy contacts, 845 gospel presentations and 171 professions of faith.